2025 has tested the limits of our new music processors over here at the smoky old Caustic factory, but over time, it has never shied us away from a hard day’s work. We are firing on all cylinders over here to keep up with the avalanche of impressive releases that seem to be never-ending as we prepare to enter the brisk breezes of autumn. This week is not unlike previous New Music Fridays we’ve seen this year, but there is something particularly enticing about this set of releases. Whether it’s something in the air or there really is something special about this week’s Caustic, which ranges from refreshing Hip-hop from veterans to psych-country bliss, is not up for us to decide. We here at the old Caustic Factory wish to present you with a selection of fresh releases, and this week just happens to be an electrifying one.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new releases, and be sure to stop by our Caustic Spotify playlist to catch up on what has been an exhilarating month of new music.
Mac DeMarco – “Rock and Roll”
Guitar
On his first proper LP since 2019, modern indie rock icon Mac DeMarco lays his soul bare for all to witness on the emotionally-charged, stripped-down Guitar. The simplistic yet potent 12-song LP finds DeMarco reaching new depths with his poetic songwriting and new heights with his vocals, as the artist croons over guitar-driven arrangements with soaring falsettos. “Rock and Roll” is just the start of DeMarco’s latest sonic persona, with a swinging drum pattern adding a swaying feeling to the slow-burning vocal melodies and downtrodden guitar riffs.
Anand Wilder – “Social Exile”
Psychic Lessons
On his latest solo LP, Yeasayer’s Anand Wilder puts together a sprawling, warped LP brimming with sonic left turns. Psychic Lessons finds the artist exploring terrains ranging from electro-pop to dusty, twangy balladry, all being strung together by his imaginative songwriting. “Social Exile” features a welcoming, jazzy swing that is paired with a psychedelic vocal performance for the perfect balance of wild experimentation and conventionally warm melodies.
Superchunk – “Cue”
Songs in the Key of Yikes
One of pop-punk’s most beloved and long-lasting heroes, Superchunk, emerges with yet another sterling example of their mastery of melodic, honest punk. Songs in the Key of Yikes is a moody, story-driven 10-song album brimming with vivid imagery and dramatic swells that only aid in the intensity of the record. “Cue” takes you through an innocent love story, as the characters in the story are sent through a whirlwind of emotions over the course of just one night.
Kathleen Edwards – “Need A Ride”
Billionaire
The young prodigy turned Americana hero, Kathleen Edwards, unleashes her latest pop-tinted exploration of modern alt-country with the Jason Isbell and Gena Johnson-produced Billionaire. The ambitious outing is overflowing with twangy anthems that find Edwards using her prowess to detail a collection of heartbreaks. “Need A Ride” is the six-minute, road-trip-ready stand-out that takes the listener on a warping journey through Edwards’s modern interpretations of traditions, and the nostalgic tropes she is manipulating to land on such a sprawling sound.
Deftones – “infinite source”
private music
The noisy, shoegaze-tinted, metal-influenced experimentation of Deftones returns in all its glory, and there is no shame in surrendering yourself to the intoxicating rock fusion of private music. The iconic band’s new album finds the band dissecting their sound and presenting it in its rawest form, with a tracklist that ranges from heartbroken shoegaze to ambitious prog-rock. The early favorite from the 11-song album, “infinite source,” features twisted guitar melodies that collide with neck-breaking drums, creating an animated backdrop for the distant yet urgent vocal performance.
Ghostface Killah – “Iron Man”
Supreme Clientele 2
Ghostface Killah has nothing left to prove in the Hip-hop world, yet the Wu-Tang veteran refuses to quit as he delivers the much-buzzed-about sequel to his 2000s Hip-hop classic. Supreme Clientele 2 finds Ghostface picking up right where he left off, with aggressive drum patterns attempting to keep up with the off-kilter imagery and explosive delivery of the artist, highlighting just how untouched his creativity and cadence have been after all these years. “Iron Man” is part of the welcoming committee for Ghostface’s latest, with face-melting drums that punctuate the booming vocals and violent flows.
Ryan Lee Crosby – “I’m Gonna Change”
At The Blue Front
Modern blues marvel Ryan Lee Crosby is back with another intricately assembled example of his pure artistry and vulnerable songwriting. At The Blue Front is eight cosmic examples of Crosby’s mastery of nostalgic blues, and continues to prove the artist’s ability to nod to traditions while making them his own. “I’m Gonna Change” is a pleading ballad driven by sparse guitars and direct promises, a heartfelt ode to someone who has stuck by you through the dark times and pushes you towards the light.
Laufey – “Forget-Me-Not”
A Matter of Time
On the anticipated follow-up to her breakthrough sophomore effort, acclaimed singer/songwriter/pianist splits her time between her jazzy roots and pop tendencies. A Matter of Time is 14 spell-binding ballads that find the artist becoming more personal as a songwriter while shifting between the jazz balladry that populated her sophomore LP, and a more pop-oriented sound that becomes a sweeping canvas for Laufey’s heartfelt lyrics. “Forget-Me-Not” lands somewhere in the middle of these two worlds, with a cinematic, ballet-style arrangement swelling with strings as Laufey’s vocals follow a similar emotional trajectory.
Dominic Fike – “Upset & Aggressive”
Rocket
The modern alt-pop all-star that threw labels into a bidding war with his debut EP, Dominic Fike, returns with a quick yet fulfilling project being promoted as a “mixtape.” Rocket is twelve breezy, punchy pop anthems with Fike’s nonchalant yet passionate vocals delivering danceable melodies over guitar-driven bliss. “Upset & Aggressive” is an early favorite from the stellar project that finds Fike spiraling over a one-sided relationship, while expanding on his rap-pop-rock fusion prowess.
Earl Sweatshirt – “Gamma (need the <3)
Live Laugh Love
Earl Sweatshirt has long established himself as one of Hip-hop’s most innovative, refreshing voices in the past decade, and the artist continues to evolve his impressive discography with the release of Live Laugh Love. The title is far from a tongue-in-cheek sentiment; the 11-song LP finds the poetic mastermind using these bite-sized moments of lo-fi solace to turn negative memories into punch-drunk poems of love and lessons learned. “Gamma (need the <3)” finds Sweatshirt rhyming over a searing string loop with a jazzy swing that makes his words even more urgent and transparent.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “Yonder”
Horizons
Daniel Donato has proven to be one of Americana’s most refreshing and necessary voices, and his ambitious new album only deepens this sentiment, so much so that it feels like his latest release is branding your soul. Horizons is a warm, psychedelic, twangy LP that pushes the limits of Donato’s jam-band style as the artist balances his immersive songwriting with instrumental bliss. “Yonder” has actually been a part of the band’s live set for a few years, and the studio version is all you could ask for. With the charm of someone just drifting through town and the wit of a conman, “Yonder” finds Donato trotting to a place unknown, but a place that could become home.
Joey Bada$$ – “DARK AURA”
Single
Joey Bada$$ has been spending 2025 releasing a string of impressive singles, and “DARK AURA” is the latest of the artist’s onslaught of Hip-hop prowess. The hypnotic single finds Bad$$ skating with pure aggression over a minimalist, nostalgic instrumental.
Jeff Tweedy – “Feel Free”
Twilight Override
Jeff Tweedy’s latest solo LP is an ambitious three-part monster, and “Feel Free” is our latest preview of the anticipated album. Twilight Override will feature thirty songs across three discs and is set to be released on September 26. “Feel Free” is a poetic freeing of the spirit, with Tweedy spending the seven-minute runtime going through a plethora of emotions as glistening acoustics shine underneath.
Toro Y Moi – “CD-R (unerthed)”
Unerthed: Hole Erth Unplugged
After dazzling critics with the energetic rap-rock LP, Hole Erth, Toro Y Moi takes a step back into the acoustic world for a stripped-down version of the acclaimed album. Unerthed: Hole Erth Unplugged finds the artist reworking the songs from his previous LP into acoustic ballads, and the auto-biographical “CD-R” is our first preview of these reimagined tunes. “CD-R (unerthed)” breathes new life into the lyrics as a rootsy, twangy arrangement dances with Toro Y Moi’s vocals.
The Barr Brothers – “English Harbour” (Feat. Jim James & Arc Iris)
Let it Hiss
The latest album from The Barr Brothers is slowly approaching, but that fall release date feels a lot closer with every single released. Let it Hiss is set to be released on October 17 and will mark their first album since 2017. The collaborative “English Harbour” is our latest single, and finds the duo teaming up with Jim James and Arc Iris for a foggy, harmony-fueled trip through natural chemistry and gentle guitar riffs.
